Robert Zoretich Obituary

I, too, remember tagging along with Uncle Bob as he drove Buff to the Eggers Woods Forest Preserve. Buff, a beautiful tan Labrador Retriever, was the only dog I ever got along with! Uncle Bob was one of the few people in the world who called me "Shar" instead of my full name -- "Sharon". He always signed greeting cards, "Uncle Bob Z." -- as if I had another Uncle Bob from the East Side. There's no other one like him. He was a true original. My husband, Tom, and I recalled in these last few days how Uncle Bob always helped whenever needed, such as 15 years ago, when we moved into our new home to start our married life together. There he was, inside the big moving truck -- nearly 70 years old then!! After my Dad had brain surgery, the summer of 1984, (after my junior year of HS), Uncle Bob took Dad's place and drove me all the way to Muncie, Indiana -- way out in the sticks in the rural part of the state -- so I could attend a week-long journalism conference at Ball State as the sole participant from my high school. I could go on and on... He was truly a cheerful giver. I loved him a lot and miss him a lot already.

--Sharon Skonie Martin, Bob's niece

I have many fond memories of my Uncle Bob. I grew up 5 blocks away and I often just stopped in as a kid to visit if I was passing by the house. He could always make me laugh about something that he encountered in his running errands in the neighborhood. He would usually have a couple of pennies or nickels and dimes that he found on the sidewalk while riding his bike that he would give to me. I can't remember the amount of times I saw him driving to or from the grocery store or Forest Preserve with his Golden Retriever. Buff would have his head out the window and be the happiest dog in the world.
I remember when he took me to Rowan Park to practice for the Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition. I didn't get very far but I still never forgot his spending time with me. I could go on and on. Uncle Bob was one of the kindest gentlemen I have ever met and I often have hoped some of that has rubbed off on me. I am going to miss him.

I love you Uncle, Steve